I have been a little quiet.

Those that know me personally know that it has been a rough week.

Tuesday I watched two marvelous people bury their eldest son. He was 22 years old, in his third year of university, had a beautiful and loving girlfriend and a loving and supportive family. For days now I have known that I had to write about it but it is so hard.

Rhys was one of my students, a number of years ago granted, that as many others have touched my life and changed it. One of the lovely things about being a secondary school teacher is that you watch kids grow into amazing adults. The special ones keep in touch, a process now made much easier through sites like Facebook. Some send text messages, others email, others send messages through younger siblings. My life is enriched by many of these young people. Not just the "good" ones (of which Rhys was one) but also the naughty ones who overcome their issues to finish high school and move on in life. I have cried with them and I have laughed with them.

Rhys died because he was living as he believed was right. A young lady was involved in an argument with her boyfriend early on a Sunday morning in the street. Rhys and a friend asked her if she needed any help. Her boyfrind turned around and punched him. He fell and cracked the back of his head on the concrete. He never woke up.

His mum told me that he was responsive in his coma. At times during the time he spent in hospital he would show signs that he could hear them. She said he looked perfect. He lasted nearly a week before he gave in.

The funeral was massive. With the team mates from his football and cricket teams, his uni mates, his high school mates, family friends and others he has touched, there were hundreds in attendance. So much as it shouldn't have to be, the service was a lovely record of a very special and stupidly short life. The messages were the same. Rhys was passionate and loving in everything he did.

I had to watch my kids hurting. It isn't fair that people so young should suffere such loss. It isn't fair that the world should suffer such loss.

This whole episode is just so pointless and has ruined so many lives. Rhys' family will have the rest of their lives to come to terms with all this as will his mates. Adding to that the boy responsible is now facing manslaughter charges. I am sure life will never be the same for him and his family either. I also can't help but feel for the poor girl who must feel some responsibility in this whole mess. Stupid shit caused by angry beer.

Regardless, wherever Rhys is I hope he realises how much he was loved and how special he was. There better be sport and I am sure if there are others he has already made some new mates.

Someday we'll find it...

The Rainbow Collection that is!!


I think Rohan might have a rainbow problem!

The kids have all wanted scarves and being the obliging mother that I am I have happily knit them all up.

Bevan's...

Duncan's...


Rohan then decides that he needs one too. Exploration uncovered that he wanted it be like Bevan's, but stars not diamonds, and rainbow! I got the scarf done after a few false starts and then the child wanted a matching hat and matching "gloves" (always ask a 4 year old clarifying questions because it turned out he really wanted mittens).

Now Rohan is (nearly) head to toe rainbow! I wonder if I have enough yarn left for socks?

PS: The yarn is Susanne's House of Wool in Rainbow. The scarf and hat are my creations, the mittens are Basic Cuff-Up Mittens by Patti Pierce Stone The diamond scarf was from a lion brand email and is knit in Shepherd Colour 4 Me. Duncan's scarf was my creation in Monster Knits Corriedale (blue fish colourway).

I love Jila Mints!

Not just because they are tasty. Not just because they are sugarfree. Not just because they are made here in Ballarat by a family owned company. Not just because that family all went to the school I teach at.

But also because the awesome (recyclable) tin that they come in makes a great handbag knitting kit!


All the bits and bobs you might need on the run! Markers, darning needles, a tape measure and a little blade for trimming ends. Truly my best idea this week. All the necessities and fits in the handbag with no trouble at all.

And just to prove that I have also been knitting.....

The flower basket shawl from Evelyn Clark in the Yarn Cafe Sock Club yarn from Yarn Collective. Small but lovely.

The Problem with Big Projects

The problem with big projects is that it can effectively seem to the outside world that you have given up the art of knitting to pursue a professional tiddly wink career. Whilst I have long thought myself a shithot tiddlly-winker, I have in actuality been knitting, all be it on large projects.

One is finally finished! Okay I confess that the actual knitting was finished some time ago (at least a week or two) but given my great love of seaming, it had been waiting patiently for a bit. It is amazing how you can convince yourself that it is imperative that you get other things done first and besides "It isn't even winter yet".

Well I finished last night which was ideal timing given that winter seems to have arrived today (brrrr, it was 4 degrees this morning) and I got to wear it to the market and out shopping.

Pattern: Climbing Vines Pullover by Joëlle Meier Rioux
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted in Old Sage (5 skeins)
Needles: 4mm for rib, 5mm for body.
Comments: I have lengthened the sleeves by about 5 cms after the increases, they just seemed to short for a heavy jumper. I also had no hope of stopping the lace work where the pattern dictated and making a front the same length as the front. Had I of thought about it I would not have done the yarn overs that have resulted in a holey type arrangement at the top.

There was one source of help for my seamaphobia, Knitting Daily sent out links to vertical and horizontal seaming tutorials. I highly recommend them if you are a fellow sufferer.

By the way, a quick Public Service Announcement. Jason took my photos for me as he often does (bless his little heart). However, being a bloke, he was so involved in the technical aspects of the photography that this happened:

Sweetheart, surely even you can see the bunching, the unsightly rolls and the bad posture! PSA: Men might take technically good photos but they are crap at telling you you look terrible!

Hmmmmmm

I'll leave the suggestion with you......

Happy Easter

Pattern: #308 Lola Bunny by Beth Skwareck

Yarn: Cleckheaton Nature - Merino 8ply in Brown
Mods: The legs are 10 rounds shorter (an efficiency issue, I had a day to finish this little bunny) and the ears are shorter so they stand up. Otherwise done by the book.
Comments: A clever little knit, loved the butt! Stupidly I remembered yesterday morning that I made my nephew, Angus, a bunny for his first Easter and then decided that I really should make my niece, Mabel, one as it is her first Easter. After finiding a seamless, knit in the round pattern I was off about 11am. Stopping for meals and essential family functions, she was finished about midnight. Must stop doing this to myself. Pushing finger is now numb.

Hope your butt is this tidy after all those eggs! Happy Easter

Big Enough!

My little boy is big enough now to have his own Geelong membership with his own special seat and today is the first home game. How cute is this?